Why Gareth Bale, Ella Lopez and Two Indy 500 Drivers Are TV’s Social Media MVPs of the Week

Check out the week’s most emotionally reacted-to TV personalities and characters.

A Real Madrid player, a forensic scientist, Danica Patrick and Will Power had viewers talking passionately on social media over the past seven days.

The Wrap has partnered with Canvs, the emotion measurement AI company, for a weekly look at some of the characters and personalities that have TV viewers the most worked up on social media. The data below covers May 23-29 and is drawn from the most emotionally reacted-to television programs, including broadcast, cable, streaming and PPV.

Viewers expressed shock and awe when Real Madrid player Gareth Bale made a stunning bicycle-kick goal during his team’s UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool FC. (The game generated 128,182 Emotional Reactions — ERs — and was broadcast on Fox.) Bale had just come into the game mere minutes before as a substitute and his goal put Madrid up 2-1 (they eventually won 3-1 after Bale scored again).

Although the series finale of Fox’s “Lucifer” was technically a few weeks ago, the show aired two “bonus” episodes this week that racked up 99,262 ERs, with Ella Lopez (portrayed by Aimee Garcia) driving the most conversation of any character. Fans loved the Ella-centric plotline and tapped out a multitude of adoring messages; it’s worth noting that “love” occured in over 43% of all ERs about the show, and Ella was one of the main drivers of that emotion.

ABC’s broadcast of the 2018 Indianapolis 500 generated 23,035 ERs with two drivers sparking conversation in particular: Danica Patrick, who crashed on lap 68 but luckily emerged unharmed, and Will Power, who took the lead with four laps remaining and snagged the win. As you’d expect, viewers sent condolences to Danica (who will be retiring) and congratulatory messages to Will.

Upfronts season has come and gone, and that means broadcast networks have canceled many a show to make room for their newly-ordered series (Or because their lead star sent out a racially-charged tweet that received immediate backlash). But not every program that got the ax went out with bad Nielsen numbers. Here's a look at the highest-rated shows didn't make the cut for the 2018-19 slate… unless they were saved by NBC. (We're looking at you, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine.") Ratings are based on Nielsen's "most current" data stream, which includes a week's worth of delayed viewing where available. Least-viewed is first, most-watched last. And, yes, there are ties.

Upfronts season has come and gone, and that means broadcast networks have canceled many a show to make room for their newly-ordered series (Or because their lead star sent out a racially-charged tweet that received immediate backlash). But not every program that got the ax went out with bad Nielsen numbers. Here's a look at the highest-rated shows didn't make the cut for the 2018-19 slate… unless they were saved by NBC. (We're looking at you, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine.") Ratings are based on Nielsen's "most current" data stream, which includes a week's worth of delayed viewing where available. Least-viewed is first, most-watched last. And, yes, there are ties.